Ernie’s Açaí Bowls in Royal Oaks Plaza smells refreshingly of fresh fruit.       Staffers offer a bright and cheery “Welcome to Ernie’s!” to customers in the clean, simple setting: White walls, chairs and tables, a mural of the Ernie’s logo with a green palm tree and the open toppings bar.        The menu offers a variety of organic açaí bowls, smoothies...

The Florida Society of Enrolled Agents named Roberto Pons the 2023-24 Enrolled Agent of the Year at its gala on June 7 at the Sheraton Tampa Brandon Hotel in Tampa.      “It’s a nice thing and I was surprised,” Pons said of the award, given in recognition for 20 years of promoting awareness and service to the Enrolled Agent community and to the public in general. “It was...

     The Florida High School Athletic Association state wrestling championships were a showcase for the Mater Lakes teams, with both the boys and girls making strong runs at state titles at the annual event in Kissimmee, Fla. The Mater Lakes boys finished second in the state, out of 69 teams in the Class 1A bracket. The Mater Lakes girls team finished fifth in the state, out of 128 teams overall.      All nine...

     Florida is second in the nation for fraud committed against elders, who may be motivated by fear, loneliness or the illusion of a quick profit to follow instructions from a stranger who approaches their door, on their phone or via email or text, the FBI says.      The bureau has issued warnings in May and June about the spike in such crimes that have led to losses of $1.6 billion nationwide in the first...

      Khloe is a loving miniature Goldendoodle who is 9 years old but still acts like a puppy, her owner Lisbet Gutierrez says.     “She is a great dog,” Gutierrez said of her pet who lives with the family -- husband Angel Gutierrez and son Christian, 25, -- in Miami Lakes. “She is full of energy. Our vet can’t believe she’s not a puppy.”       Khloe likes...